Bag assembly

ABSTRACT

A bag assembly comprises a plurality of members that are telescopically arranged inside one another, the members being transformable between an extended condition and a collapsed condition. The assembly has a substantially greater length in the extended condition than in the collapsed condition. In one arrangement, the bag assembly has an extended condition in which the telescopically engaging members extend upwardly and a flexible bag is disposed substantially within the interior space defined by the members. A lid is also provided. In another arrangement, the members are inserted into a bag, keeping the top of the bag open to assist filling of the bag.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a bag assembly comprising a flexible bag andan assembly of telescoping members. It also relates to a method offilling a flexible bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In domestic situations it is very common practice to insert a flexiblebin liner into a bin. The liner is then filled and, when full, removedfrom the bin. The removal of the liner can be problematic. Firstly,access to the upper portion of the liner is obstructed by the bin andaccess to any lower portions is impossible. Secondly, the liner oncefilled can resist being lifted out of the bin as a result of frictionbetween the liner and the sides of the bin. As a result it is common tofind that a bin liner is torn whilst being removed from a bin.

It is an object of the first aspect of the invention to provide a bagassembly and method of filling a bag that overcomes at least in part theproblems indicated above.

In various situations and especially the construction industry, it iscommon to need to fill flexible bags which may have a capacity of theorder of one cubic metre. When filling such bags problems can arise withthe sides of the bag falling inwards and obstructing the opening in thetop.

It is an object of the second aspect of the invention to provide a bagassembly and method of filling a bag that overcomes at least in part theproblem indicated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bagassembly comprising a flexible bag and a plurality of members that aretelescopically arranged inside one another, the members beingtransformable between an extended condition and a collapsed condition,the assembly having a substantially greater length in the extendedcondition than in the collapsed condition, the bag assembly having anextended condition in which the telescopically engaging members extendupwardly and the flexible bag is disposed substantially within theinterior space defined by the members.

Such a bag assembly is able, in its extended condition to support aflexible bag, which may be a bin liner, in a similar way to a domesticbin, for example for use in a kitchen, or in a larger version for use inplace of a dustbin. When a user wishes to remove the bag, the memberscan be collapsed around the bag. Once collapsed, the bag is only heldwithin the collapsed assembly in a bottom region and the upper portionof the bag is fully accessible. As a result the bag can be removed fromthe members much more easily.

In an embodiment of the invention described below, there are threemembers. We have found that providing three members enables the lengthof the assembly in the collapsed condition to be much reduced from thatwhen it is in the extended position, while not introducing a great manyparts. It should be understood, however, that two or more than threemembers may be provided.

The members are preferably able to be secured together in intermediatepositions between fully extended and fully collapsed conditions. In thatcase a user can adjust the height and volume of the assembly in anextended condition to suit a particular situation. There may be amultiplicity of discrete intermediate positions or the height may becontinuously variable.

The members are preferably able to be secured together in a fullycollapsed condition.

The members may be able to be secured together by a post on one memberprojecting into a recess or opening in another member.

The members may be able to be secured together by rotation of one memberrelative to another.

The two optional features just described may both be employed byadopting a bayonet fastening arrangement. Furthermore by providing abayonet fastening arrangement in which a projecting part on one memberengages in a longitudinally extending groove in the other member and byproviding transverse extensions to that groove along the length of thegroove an adjustable bayonet fastening arrangement can be provided.

Another possibility is for the members to be secured together by agenerally dome-shaped protuberance on one member engaging in a recess oropening in another member. A plurality of recesses or openings arepreferably provided in said another member at longitudinal spacingsalong said another member, with grooves extending between adjacentrecesses or openings, and the generally dome-shaped protuberance on saidone member is selectively engageable in the recesses or openings and isable to travel along said grooves between adjacent recesses or openings.The adjacent recesses or openings are preferably provided along a linearpath substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the members.Such an arrangement provides an especially advantageous coupling betweenthe members because it remains easy to adjust the degree of telescopingof the members but the members can be reliably held in engagement at aselected degree of telescoping.

Preferably the members are able to be secured together by one or morediscrete protuberances on one member frictionally engaging anothermember. The protuberances are preferably wedge-shaped. Preferably, theyare provided close to an end region of one member for engaging anothermember when the members are in a collapsed condition. Such anarrangement provides a very simple method of holding members together ina collapsed condition.

Whilst it is within the scope of the invention for there to be a singlefastening arrangement between two telescopically engaging members, it ispreferred that there are more. In an embodiment of the inventiondescribed below two diametrically opposite fastening arrangements areprovided, but it is also possible to provide three, four or morearrangements, preferably equiangularly spaced around the members.

The members may be able to be secured together by virtue of frictionforces between adjacent faces of respective telescopically engagingmembers. Such a method of securing is advantageous in that it requiresno additional parts. It may not, however, be sufficiently strong orreliable and consistent for some applications, especially for securingthe members in an extended condition. Accordingly, the members may besecurable at least partly by a fastener (for example the bayonetfastener or dome-shaped protuberance described above) which isengageable between at least two of the members. Such an alternative oradditional fastening arrangement may be made as secure and reliable asthe designer wishes. For example a fastening member may be mounted inone end of a telescoping member and able to make positive engagementwith an opposite end of an adjacent telescopically engaging member. In acase where there are three members it may be convenient to provide twosuch fastening members. Alternatively or additionally the members may besecurable in an extended condition by a protuberance which may interferewith the telescoping movement of one member relative to another. Theprotuberance may for example be provided on one member and engage anedge of another member when the members are in an extended condition.The arrangement may be such that in order to telescope the memberstogether, it is necessary to deform one or both of them elastically.

As described below with reference to a second aspect of the invention,the members may also be securable in a collapsed condition. They may besecured in the collapsed condition by any of the mechanisms describedabove for securing the members in an extended condition.

Preferably the plurality of members are arranged such that they are notrotatable relative to one another about their axis. Especially if it isdesired to be able to secure the members together in a collapsed orextended condition, it is useful if their relative rotational positionsare substantially fixed, which may be achieved in a variety of ways.

Whilst it is within the scope of the invention for the members to be ofany of a wide variety of cross-sections, including rectangular or squarecross-sections, it will usually be preferred that the members are of agenerally round cross-section. The members may be of a circularcross-section or of a generally circular, but not an exactly circular,cross-section. An almost circular cross-section is advantageous in manycases for an interior shape but a degree of non-circularity may beadvantageous for preventing relative rotation. For example thecross-section may be slightly oval; another possibility is to provide alongitudinal projection on a member engaging in a correspondinglongitudinal groove of an adjacent member. Each member may be formedwith a formation that provides a longitudinal projection on one face ofthe member and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, alongitudinal groove on an opposite face of the member.

Preferably the members are rotatable relative to one another.

The telescoping members may be of constant cross-section along theirlength but they may be of other varying cross-section. In an embodimentdescribed below they are of generally frustoconical shape; in that casethe smaller cross-section end of each frustoconical member is preferablyits bottom end.

In the case where the telescoping members are of generally frustoconicalshape, the half angle of the cone defining the frustoconical members ispreferably less than 10 degrees and more preferably less than fivedegrees; as will be understood a half angle of 10 degrees corresponds toa full cone angle of 20 degrees at the notional apex of the cone. Thehalf angle of the cone is preferably sufficiently great that the memberscollapse easily, but in at least those cases where friction forcesbetween the members are to be employed to retain the members in anextended condition, the half angle of the cone should not be too great.In an embodiment of the invention described below the half angle of thecone is about four degrees.

The assembly may be made of any suitable material, in particular, butnot exclusively, of metal or plastics material. In an embodiment of theinvention described below the assembly is made of plastics material.

The lower end of the assembly of members may be at least partiallyclosed. In the case where the members are generally frustoconical, thesmaller cross-section end is, in use, the bottom of the assembly and apartially closed bottom may support the bottom of a bin liner. The endmay be fully closed; that has the advantage of retaining the contents ofthe interior of the assembly within the assembly even if, for example,the flexible bag tears. The full or partial closure may be effected byproviding the innermost member with a bottom portion extending acrossits lower end. The bottom portion may be upwardly curved, at least inthe region of the side(s) of the assembly, to smooth a transition froman approximately horizontal bottom portion to an approximately verticalside portion. Preferably there is a gradual and progressive increase ininclination from an approximately horizontal bottom portion to anapproximately vertical side portion. The bottom portion may be ofapproximately hemispherical shape or some other curved shape that may beconstant around a central vertical axis of the assembly. Sucharrangements further facilitate removal of a bag.

The assembly may further include a lid for closing over the upper end ofthe assembly. The larger cross-section end is, in use, the top of theassembly. The lid may include one or more handles. It may be a separatepart from the assembly of members, or it may be connected, for examplevia a pivotal connection, to the assembly of members. In the latter casethe lid is preferably connected to the outermost member in the region ofits upper end.

The larger cross-section end of the assembly may be arranged to receivethe top of the flexible bag and may be provided with a particulararrangement or configuration for that purpose.

The upper end of the assembly may be provided with a handle connected toits upper region. In an embodiment of the invention described below, apair of handles are provided on opposite sides of an upper region of theuppermost member.

The assembly of telescopically engaging members may be sold separatelyfrom the flexible bag with which they are used. Thus the first aspect ofthe invention is also directed to the members per se. Accordingly, inthe first aspect of the invention there is provided a plurality ofmembers that are telescopically arranged inside one another, the membersbeing arranged for use in a bag assembly as defined above. The membersmay of course include any of the features defined above.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is also provided amethod of filling a flexible bag, the method including the followingsteps:

providing a plurality of members that are telescopically arranged insideone another and can be transformed between an extended condition and acollapsed condition, the assembly having a substantially greater lengthin the extended condition than in the collapsed condition,

extending the assembly of members to the extended condition with themembers extending upwardly,

placing a flexible bag with its top extending around the region of anopen upper end of the assembly,

adding material into the bag,

collapsing the assembly of members away from their extended conditiontowards or into their collapsed condition, and

lifting the bag upwardly out of the assembly of members.

Once collapsed the bag is only held within the collapsed assembly in abottom region and the upper portion of the bag is fully accessible. As aresult the bag can be removed from the members much more easily. As willbe understood, it may not be necessary to collapse the bag completely inorder to facilitate the removal of the bag and therefore the collapsingstep above may involve only partial collapse with the assembly ofmembers not reaching their fully collapsed condition.

The assembly of members may be securable in an extended condition byvirtue of friction forces between adjacent faces of respectivetelescopically engaging members and/or by a fastener which engages twoor more of the members. The assembly may also have any of the otherfeatures referred to above.

In the collapsed condition of the assembly of members, the overalllength of the assembly is preferably not more than 60%, and morepreferably less than 40% of the overall length of the assembly in anextended condition. Additionally or alternatively, the overall length ofthe assembly is preferably not more than 150% of the average length of amember.

In embodiments of the invention described below the overalllength/height of the assembly is altered manually. Another possibility,however, is to provide a prime mover such as an electric motor with anappropriate electronic control system and appropriate drive train(s) tomove the members relative to one another. If desired a remote controlmay be provided to allow a user to adjust the members remotely.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bagassembly comprising a flexible bag, a plurality of members that aretelescopically arranged inside one another and fastening means, themembers being transformable between an extended condition and acollapsed condition, the assembly having a substantially greater lengthin the extended condition than in the collapsed condition, the bagassembly having an extended condition in which the members are disposedwith at least a lower portion disposed substantially within the flexiblebag, and having a collapsed condition in which they can be at leastpartially secured by the fastening means.

The assembly of members is only intended to be used in the extendedcondition (although it can be used in the collapsed condition), but wehave found that there is a substantial advantage in securing the membersin a collapsed condition because it facilitates handling of the assemblywhen it is being moved or stored. The assembly may be used for fillingrelatively large flexible bags, for example those used in theconstruction industry. One end of the assembly may be arranged toreceive the top of the flexible bag and may be provided with aparticular arrangement or configuration for that purpose.

The fastening means may comprise a fastener which is able to securetogether the outermost and innermost members of the assembly in thecollapsed condition of the assembly. It is not essential to secure anyfrustoconical members disposed between the innermost and outermostmembers because they may be retained by the securing of the innermostand outermost members, but it is within the scope of the invention tosecure the other members and indeed that will often be advantageous, forexample to prevent small movements of the other members.

Preferably the assembly of members comprises a series of members inwhich each member flares outwardly in the same longitudinal direction sothat the assembly of members, when in its extended condition, flaressteadily outwardly from one end of the assembly of relatively smallcross-section to an opposite end of relatively large cross-section. Theassembly may be used with either the wider end or the narrower end atthe top; generally, it will be preferred to use the assembly with thewider end at the top.

According to the second aspect of the invention there is also provided amethod of filling a flexible bag, the method including the followingsteps:

providing a plurality of members that are telescopically arranged insideone another, the members being securable in both an extended conditionand a collapsed condition, the assembly having a substantially greaterlength in the extended condition than in the collapsed condition,

placing the assembly of members in the bag in the extended conditionwith the longitudinal axis of the members extending upwardly to an openend which is the wider end of the assembly,

adding material to the bag through the open end of the members,

lifting the assembly of members out of the bag,

collapsing the assembly of members into the collapsed condition, and

securing the assembly of members in the collapsed condition.

The method may further include, after the step of adding material to thebag through the open end of the members and before the step of liftingthe assembly of members out of the bag, the steps of:

lifting the assembly of members at least partly out of the bag, and

adding further material to the bag through the open end of the members.

The assembly of members is preferably used with the wider end of theassembly as the upper end and the narrower end in the bag to be filled,since this makes the end through which material is delivered to the bagthe wider end, but it is possible to use the assembly the other way up.

In the description above, the first aspect of the invention relates toplacing a bag in the assembly of members, while the second aspect of theinvention relates to placing the assembly of members in a bag. It ispossible for the same assembly of members to be used in both aspects ofthe invention. Thus a method of the first aspect of the invention mayalso include placing the assembly of members in a flexible bag in theextended condition, adding material to the bag through the open end ofthe members, and lifting the assembly of members out of the bag.

The assembly of members employed in either aspect of the invention mayinclude one or more accessories, either incorporated into the assemblyor provided as an additional component. For example, the bottom of theassembly may be provided with a sieve; when used in the second aspect ofthe invention, the sieving would occur principally as the assembly waslifted upwardly. If the same assembly were used in the first aspect ofthe invention the sieve would provide a partially closed bottom on whicha bin liner would rest.

It will be appreciated that the various aspects of the invention asdescribed herein are closely related and that therefore essential orpreferred features of one aspect of the invention may, unless indicatedotherwise or clearly inappropriate, be incorporated into other aspectsof the invention as described herein. For example the apparatusaccording to the second aspect of the invention may employ members thatare of constant cross-section along their lengths or of frustoconicalshapes. It may also employ any of the fastening arrangements describedwith respect to the first aspect of the invention, including for examplethe bayonet fastening arrangement, the dome-shaped protuberance or thewedge-shaped protuberance. Also, any aspect of the method of theinvention may use an apparatus according to the same, or any other,aspect of the invention. Similarly, an apparatus according to any aspectof the invention may be so configured as to be suitable for use in amethod according to the same, or any other, aspect of the invention.Features of the apparatus of the invention may be incorporated into themethod of the invention and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example embodiments of the invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view from the side and above of a collapsible binassembly comprising three frustoconical members and a lid, the assemblybeing shown in an extended condition,

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the lid,

FIG. 3 is an isometric view from the side and below of the assembly offrustoconical members, the assembly being shown in a collapsedcondition,

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a fastening member,

FIG. 5 is an isometric view from the side and above of the bin assemblyin a collapsed condition with the lid removed and with a bin linerreceived within the assembly,

FIG. 6A is an isometric view from the side and above of the assembly offrustoconical members being employed to fill a sack that is empty,

FIG. 6B is an isometric view from the side and above of the assembly ofFIG. 6A at a later stage in the filling of the sack,

FIG. 7 is a section through a part of the side wall of the bin assemblywhen the assembly is in an extended condition,

FIG. 8 is an isometric, partly exploded, view from the front and aboveof a modified form of collapsible bin assembly, the assembly being shownin an extended condition,

FIG. 9 is an isometric view from the side and above of a middletelescoping member of the assembly of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is an isometric view from the front and above of a half sectionof an innermost member of the assembly of FIG. 8,

FIG. 11 is an isometric view from the front and above of the assembly ofFIG. 8, showing the assembly in a collapsed condition,

FIG. 12 is a side view of a modified form of the assembly shown in FIGS.6A and 6B, with the members shown in a collapsed condition,

FIG. 13A is a sectional side view of an alternative fasteningarrangement for securing two telescoping members together in selectedpositions, and

FIG. 13B is a diagrammatic front view of the part of the fasteningarrangement of FIG. 13A that is provided on one of the members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a bin assembly comprising an outermost frustoconicalmember 1, a middle frustoconical member 2 and an innermost frustoconicalmember 3, and, mounted over the top of the frustoconical member 1, a lid4 which in the embodiment shown has a handle 5. In the particularexample described, all the parts are made of plastics material. In theembodiment shown, the handle 5 is mounted centrally on the lid 4 and thelid 4 can simply be lifted off the top of the member 1. A pair ofhandles 6 are provided on diametrically opposite sides of the top of themember 1.

Each of the members 1, 2 and 3 is of almost circular cross-section butwith a small degree of eccentricity. The members fit closely inside oneanother each having a slightly wider top end than bottom end. The sidewalls are inclined at about four degrees to the vertical. As can be seenin FIG. 3, the members are dimensioned such that they can nest insideone another in a collapsed condition. In this collapsed condition, theexterior dimensions of the innermost member 3 are a little smaller thanthe interior dimensions of the middle member 2, whose exteriordimensions are in turn a little smaller than the interior dimensions ofthe outermost member 1. Also, the members 1, 2 and 3 are dimensionedsuch that when the assembly is extended to the position shown in FIG. 1,the exterior upper region of the innermost member 3 bears against theinterior lower region of the middle member 2, and the exterior upperregion of the middle member 2 bears against the interior lower region ofthe outermost member 1. Those forces result in sufficient friction tohold the members 1, 2 and 3 in the position shown unless a substantialforce is applied.

All of the members 1, 2 and 3 are tapered, flaring outwardly towardstheir upper ends. The top of the innermost member 3 is unable to passthrough the bottom of the middle member 2 and, similarly, the top of themiddle member 2 is unable to pass through the bottom of the outermostmember 1.

A fastening member 7 is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 for securing themembers 1, 2 and 3 together in both a collapsed condition and anextended condition. The fastening member 7 has a head 9, a shaft 9A anda latch 10 all formed integrally with one another. The member 7 isrotatably mounted on the outermost member 1 and in one rotationalorientation, the latch 10 is able to pass through oblong holes 8 in thelower portions of the members 2 and 3. When the members are in thecollapsed condition shown in FIG. 3, the latch 10 of the fasteningmember 7 can be inserted through the holes 8 and then rotated throughone quarter of a full rotation to hold all the members 1, 2 and 3together in a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 3. If desired, in theextended condition of the members, a further fastening member 7A (notshown) may be provided, mounted on a lower region of the middle memberand engageable with an oblong hole (not visible in the drawings)in anupper region of the innermost member 3. The middle member 2 may also beprovided with an oblong hole in its upper region and that hole may beengaged by the fastening member 7 to securely lock the assembly in itsextended condition. In addition (or as an alternative) to the fastener7A protruding domes 16 may be formed on the exterior of the members 2and 3 towards their upper ends in order to retain the assembly in itsextended condition. FIG. 7 shows how the bottom edge of member 2 restson the top of the dome 16, but can be pushed over the dome by a downwardforce on the member 2, with elastic deformation of the members 2 and 3allowing the passage of member 2 over the dome 16.

A recess 15 is formed in the bottom of the lowest member 3. A user mayplace a foot in the recess to hold the assembly on the floor whilelifting the assembly upwards into its extended position.

The assembly described above can be used in a variety of ways. Twoespecially advantageous uses are described below.

Referring first to FIG. 5, a stage in the removal of a bin liner fromthe interior of the bin is shown. Previously a bin liner 11 has beenfitted around the top of the outermost frustoconical member 1 with theassembly secured in its extended position and the bin liner has beenfilled with waste material. Once the bin liner 11 is full and it istherefore desired to lift the liner out of the assembly, the lid 4 isremoved, the securing of the members 1, 2 and 3 in their extendedposition is released by rotating and withdrawing the fastening members 7and 7A and a user then presses downwardly on the top of the periphery ofthe outermost frustoconical member 1 collapsing the assembly around thebin liner and arriving at the state shown schematically in FIG. 5 withmore than half of the bin liner 11 projecting out of the top of theassembly. In this state the whole of the upper portion of the bin liner11 is exposed, making it easy to close the top of the liner if desired.Also the liner 11 can readily be lifted out of the bin assembly bothbecause it can if necessary be held around the middle, rather than onlyat the top and because there is a much smaller area of contact betweenthe sides of the bin assembly and the liner because the members 1 and 2do not make any contact.

After the bin liner has been lifted out, the bin assembly can bereturned to its extended condition, locked in that condition by thefastening members 7 and 7A and a new bin liner fitted inside theassembly with the top of the liner engaging around the top of theoutermost frustoconical member 1, and the lid 4 can then be placed ontop of the assembly.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a second advantageous use of the assembly offrustoconical members, with the lid 4 removed. In this case the assemblyis inserted inside a flexible bag 12 and used to assist filling of thebag. A user first adjusts the assembly to its extended position and, ifdesired, locks it in that position using the fastening members 7 and 7A(7A not being shown). The user then holds the top of the bag 12 open andinserts the assembly in an upright orientation with the wider end of theassembly at the top. The user then has both hands free to load material(for example, sand gravel or rubble) into the assembly and there is norisk of the sides of the bag 12 obstructing the opening into theassembly since the top of the assembly is above the top of the sides ofthe bag. In due course the assembly becomes fairly full of the materialand this is the condition shown schematically in FIG. 6A. At that stagea user lifts the assembly away from the bottom of the bag 12, allowingthe material in the assembly to fall out of the assembly into the bag.The user then places the assembly on top of the material in the bag 12and again fills the assembly. FIG. 6B shows the condition of the bag andassembly towards the end of this second filling process. The sequence oflifting the assembly to allow material in the assembly to fall out intothe bag 12 can be repeated several more times until the bag is almostfull.

When the assembly is not in use, it can be collapsed to the conditionshown in FIG. 3 and locked in that condition by the fastening member 7.That makes storage of the assembly much simpler.

In the examples described above, the same assembly of frustoconicalmembers is used in both the application shown in FIG. 5 and theapplication shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. It should be understood that analternative is to provide an assembly dedicated to each of theapplications. If an assembly is being provided specifically for theapplication shown in FIG. 5, it may be preferred to provide theinnermost member 3 with a closed base. If an assembly is being providedspecifically for the application shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, it may bepreferred to omit the fastening member 7A and the lid 4.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show a bin assembly similar in various respects to theassembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 but with some significant modifications.The assembly shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 will now be described. It generallycomprises a bottom, innermost, member 101, a middle member 102, anupper, outermost, member 103 and a lid member 104. The members 101, 102and 103 are all of generally circular cylindrical shape andtelescopically engage one another.

Referring especially to FIG. 10, the bottom, innermost, member 101comprises a cylindrical sidewall 106, and a curved bottom 107. Thebottom 107 is of approximately part-spherical shape as shown in FIG. 10,but, if desired, the curvature of the bottom 107 may be sharper thanshown in FIG. 10 so as to provide a smoother transition from the bottom107 to the sidewall 106. Providing such a curved bottom is useful infacilitating removal of a bag from within the member 101 and makes iteasier to clean the inside of the member 101. The member 101 is alsoprovided with a pair of laterally projecting feet 108. A user can placetheir own feet on the top of the feet 108 when removing a bag or whenextending the bin assembly, to keep the member 101 on the ground. As analternative to providing feet 108, the member 101 may be provided withan outwardly extending rim or flange around its bottom for the samepurpose.

Referring especially to FIG. 9, the middle member 102 has a generallycylindrical wall 111 on the outside of which, towards the top, are apair of short outwardly projecting posts 112, of which one is only justvisible in FIG. 9. On the inside of the cylindrical wall 111, in thesame circumferential region as each of the posts, are a pair of plates113 which each carry a vertical groove 114 from which four transversegrooves 115 extend. Each of the transverse grooves 115 is formed with ashort upward extension 116 at its end. In FIG. 9, only one of the plates113 can be seen fully but it will be understood that both plates 113 areof the same design.

The sidewall 106 of the bottom member 101 is also provided with a pairof posts 112 on the outside towards the top, one of the posts 112 beingjust visible in FIG. 10. The posts 112 on the member 101 engage in thegrooves 114 on the member 102 to provide two bayonet fasteningarrangements between the members. When the posts 112 on the member 101engage the lowermost transverse grooves 115 on the member 102, themembers 101 and 102 are extended to the maximum extent, and when theposts 112 sit at the uppermost ends of the grooves 114 the members 101and 102 are telescoped to the maximum extent. The other three grooves115 in each plate 113 define three intermediate degrees of telescopingof the members 101 and 102.

The upper, outermost, member 103 is also provided with plates 113, thetops of which are just visible in FIG. 8. The member 103 is of circularcylindrical shape and fits over the middle member 102, with the posts112 at the top of the middle member 102 engaging the grooves 114, 115 inthe plates 113 on the member 103 to provide the same kind of fasteningarrangement between the members 103 and 102 as is provided between themembers 102 and 101. A pair of handles 121 are provided on the exteriorof the member 103 in an upper region of the member. The lid member 104,which may be of any appropriate design, fits over and rests on the topof the member 103.

As will now be understood, the assembly can be placed in a wide varietyof conditions between the fully extended condition shown in FIG. 8 andthe fully collapsed condition shown in FIG. 11. Starting from thecondition shown in FIG. 11, in which the posts 112 are disposed at thetop ends of the grooves 114, the member 103 may be lifted by a userusing the handles 121 and with their feet placed over the feet 108. At achosen degree of extension the member 102 can be rotated relative to themember 101 and the member 103 rotated relative to the member 102 tocause the posts 112 to enter respective transverse grooves 115. Afterthat rotation the user can let go of the handles 121 causing the members102 and 103 to drop slightly as the posts 112 enter the extensions 116of the grooves. In that condition the assembly is stably fastened at aselected degree of extension. In order to change the degree ofextension, it is merely necessary for a user to lift a member slightlyto move the parts 112 out of the extensions 116 and rotate the memberback to the fully collapsed rotational position in which the posts 112are in the vertical grooves 114. The member can then be adjustedupwardly or downwardly and then rotated again to cause the posts toenter other transverse grooves 115.

FIG. 12 shows certain modifications that can be made to the assembly ofmembers shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and that is particularly, but notexclusively useful for filling bags as described with reference to FIGS.6A and 6B. The modified assembly differs from that shown in FIGS. 6A and6B in the following respects: firstly, the members 1, 2 and 3 are ofcylindrical shape; secondly, wedge-shaped protuberances 22 are providedat diametrically opposite locations on the insides of the members 1 and2 near the top, so that when the members are in a fully collapsedcondition the tops of the members are resiliently deformed and held inposition relative to one another by friction; thirdly, a pair ofdiametrically opposite bayonet fastening arrangements each of the kinddescribed above with reference to FIG. 9 is provided for fastening thethree members in a fully extended condition. As can be seen in FIG. 12,each bayonet fastening arrangement comprises a vertical groove 114 oneach of the members 1 and 2, from which just one transverse groove 115extends with a short upward extension 116 at its end. The members 2 and3 are each provided with a pair of diametrically opposite posts 112 ontheir outsides towards their top ends, the posts 112 engaging in thegrooves 114. If desired the top of the member 1 may be provide with apair of handles.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show an alternative fastening arrangement to thebayonet arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and 12. The arrangement is shownfastening a first telescoping member 201 to a second telescoping member202, with just the adjacent walls of the members shown in section inFIG. 13A and only the part of the fastening arrangement on the member201 shown in FIG. 13B. The member 202 has a single dome-shapedprotuberance 203 projecting outwardly at its upper end from its maincylindrical wall 204. The member 201 has an adjacent cylindrical wall205 on which a fastener 206 is mounted. The fastener 206 is formed witha series of cup-shaped recesses 207 matched to the shape of theprotuberance 203. The recesses 207 are disposed along a vertical pathand are connected by grooves 208, the bottoms of which are indicated bylines in FIG. 13A, from which it can be seen that the recesses 207 aredeeper than the grooves 208. The fastening arrangement shown in FIGS.13A and 13B is provided at diametrically opposite positions of themembers 201, 202 and, as will be understood the members are able to beresiliently deformed to allow the protruberance 203 to move out of arecess 207 along a groove 208 and into another recess 207.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentionedwhich have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then suchequivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope ofthe present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass anysuch equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader thatintegers or features of the invention that are described as preferable,advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit thescope of the independent claims.

1. A bag assembly comprising a flexible bag and a plurality of membersthat are telescopically arranged inside one another, the members beingtransformable between an extended condition and a collapsed condition,the assembly having a substantially greater length in the extendedcondition than in the collapsed condition, the bag assembly having anextended condition in which the telescopically engaging members extendupwardly and the flexible bag is disposed substantially within theinterior space defined by the members.
 2. A bag assembly according toclaim 1, in which the members are able to be secured together inintermediate positions between the fully extended and fully collapsedconditions.
 3. A bag assembly according to claim 1, in which the membersare able to be secured together in a fully collapsed condition.
 4. A bagassembly according to claim 1, in which the members are able to besecured together by a post on one member projecting into a recess oropening in another member.
 5. A bag assembly according to claim 1, inwhich the members are able to be secured together by one or more bayonetfastening arrangements.
 6. A bag assembly according to claim 1, in whichthe members are able to be secured together by a generally dome-shapedprotuberance on one member engaging in a recess or opening in anothermember.
 7. A bag assembly according to claim 6, in which a plurality ofrecesses or openings are provided in said another member at longitudinalspacings along said another member, with grooves extending betweenadjacent recesses or openings, and the generally dome-shapedprotuberance in said one member is selectively engagable in the recessesor openings and is able to travel along said grooves between adjacentrecesses or openings.
 8. A bag assembly according to claim 1, in whichthe members are able to be secured together by one or more discreteprotuberances on one member frictionally engaging another member, theone or more protuberances being wedge-shaped.
 9. A bag assemblyaccording to claim 1, in which the telescopically engaging members aregenerally frustconical members.
 10. A bag assembly according to claim 1,in which the lower end of the assembly of members is at least partiallyclosed.
 11. A bag assembly according to claim 9, in which the innermosttelescoping member of the assembly is provided with a bottom portionextending across its lower end, the bottom portion being upwardlycurved, at least in the region of the side(s) of the assembly, to smootha transition from an approximately horizontal bottom portion to anapproximately vertical side portion.
 12. An assembly according to claim1, in which the assembly of members are securable in an extendedcondition by virtue of friction forces between adjacent faces ofrespective telescopically engaging members.
 13. A plurality of membersthat are telescopically arranged inside one another, the members beingarranged for use in a bag assembly according to claim
 1. 14. A method offilling a flexible bag, the method including the following steps:providing a plurality of members that are telescopically arranged insideone another and can be transformed between an extended condition and acollapsed condition, the assembly having a substantially greater lengthin the extended condition than in the collapsed condition, extending theassembly of members to the extended condition with the members extendingupwardly, placing a flexible bag with its top extending around theregion of the open end of the assembly, adding material into the bag,collapsing the assembly of members away from their extended conditiontowards or into their collapsed condition, and lifting the bag upwardlyout of the assembly of members.
 15. A method according to claim 14, inwhich in the collapsed condition of the assembly of members, the overalllength of the assembly is not more than 60% of the overall length of theassembly in an extended condition.
 16. A bag assembly comprising aflexible bag, a plurality of members that are telescopically arrangedinside one another and fastening means, the members being transformablebetween an extended condition and a collapsed condition, the assemblyhaving a substantially greater length in the extended condition than inthe collapsed condition, the bag assembly having an extended conditionin which the telescopically arranged members are disposed with at leasta lower portion disposed substantially within the flexible bag, andhaving a collapsed condition in which they can be at least partiallysecured by the fastening means.
 17. A bag assembly according to claim16, in which the fastening means comprises a fastener which is able tosecure together the outermost and innermost frustoconical members of theassembly in the collapsed condition of the assembly.
 18. A method offilling a flexible bag, the method including the following steps:providing a plurality of members that are telescopically arranged insideone another, the members being securable in both an extended conditionand a collapsed condition, the assembly having a substantially greaterlength in the extended condition than in the collapsed condition,placing the assembly of members in the bag in the extended conditionwith the longitudinal axis of the members extending upwardly to an openend which is the wider end of the assembly, adding material to the bagthrough the open end of the members, lifting the assembly of members outof the bag, collapsing the assembly of members into the collapsedcondition, and securing the assembly of members in the collapsedcondition.
 19. A method according to claim 18, further including, afterthe step of adding material to the bag through the open end of themembers and before the step of lifting the assembly of members out ofthe bag, the steps of: lifting the assembly of members at least partlyout of the bag, and adding further material to the bag through the openend of the members.